Tank sprayer



A. MASCARO Mal-Ch I, 1955 TANK SPRAYER Filed Oct. 50, 1953 United StatesPatent O The present invention relates to tank sprayers and moreparticularly to mobile units of this character .which are adapted formanual operation on lawns and gardens.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel mobiletank sprayer unit which is operable to spray liquids, such as plant foodand fertilizer and distribute the fine spray uniformly over thevegetation of a lawn or garden.

Another object of the present'invention is to provide a novel device ofthis characterwhich is operated automatically upon advance or forwardmovement of the device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device havingthe features and characteristics set forth which is of comparativelysimplified and inexpensive manufacture and is fully effective inoperation and use.

These and other objects of the invention and the various features anddetails of the construction and operation thereof are more fully setforth hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tank sprayer made in accordance withthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the sprayer with a portion of thecasing broken away to illustrate the construction of the sprayer;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

The sprayer of the present invention comprises a tank 11 for containingthe spray liquid, a spray nozzle 12, and pump means to force the sprayliquid from the tank to the nozzle. A single wheel 13 supports thedevice, and a handle 14 is fixed to the tank to advance or push thedevice. The construction of the device is simple, yet sturdy. The tank11 is formed with a depending skirt 15 which mounts cross channelmembers 16 and 17. An axle 18 has its opposite ends journalled in andspans the space between the channels to rotatably mount the wheel 13.The nozzle 12 is mounted on the skirt 15 as indicated at 19.

In accordance with the invention, means is provided to pump the liquidfrom the tank 11 to the nozzle 12. To this end, the tank is provided atits bottom with a drain 22, and a hose 24 is connected from the tank 11to the nozzle 12. At least the central portion of the hose 24 is ofresilient collapsible construction, such as, for example, a rubbergarden hose, and means is provided to engage periodically thecollapsible portion of the hose 24 and force the liquid therein to thenozzle 12 upon rotation of the wheel 13.

In the present invention this is accomplished by a simple andeconomically manufactured mechanism. To this end, a vertically disposedbacking plate 27 is rigidly secured to the channel member 17. The plateis provided with spaced apertures as indicated at 28 and 29 to permitthe hose to pass through the plate 27 and extend in a semi-circular arecentered about the axle 18 of the sprayer unit, the apertures 28 and 29being slightly greater than 180 apart.

To collapse the hose 24 against the plate, a pair of rollers 31, 31 areprovided to alternately bear against the hose 24 and force the liquidtherein towards the nozzle 12. The rollers 31, 31 are mounted forrotation at the opposite ends of a shaft 32 which is fixedly mounted onthe hub of the wheel 13 for rotation therewith as clearly illustrated inFigs. 2 and 3. The rollers 31 are ice held in place on the ends of theshaft by snap washers 35 seated in grooves on the shaft as clearly shownin Fig. 4.

By vlrtue of this construction it will be apparent that as the wheelrotates counterclockwise in Fig. 2, the rollers 31 longitudinallytraverse the hose 24, collapsing it and impelling the fluidcounterclockwise therein toward the nozzle 12. To provide suflicientpressure against the hose 24 to collapse the same and prevent unduefriction, the hub is provided with an axial thrust bearing 36 which isheld against displacement on the axle by a nut 37. By tightening orrelaxing the nut it is possible to adjust the pressure of the rollers 31aganist the hose 24.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the hose 24 isprotected against damage by the roller by means of a heavy canvas flap39 which is suspended from the backing plate 27 as indicated at 40 inFigs. 2 and 3. The flap covers the hose 24.and prevents direct contactof the rollers 31 on the hose. .In addition, the flap maintains the hosein fixed position against the backing plate 27 to prevent undue frictionand wear therebetween. The canvas not only prevents damage to the hose,but also assists in maintaining a steady pressure at the nozzle 12. Asshown in Fig. 4, thecanvas enlarges the callapsed area of the hose andreduces varia-. tions in pressure caused when one roller leaves the hose24 at the aperture 29 and the other roller engages it at the aperture28.

The sprayer of the present invention provides a steady spraying streamas it is advanced along the ground. To

assist in maintaining constant pressure, a pressure ac-.

cumulator 42 is provided adjacent the nozzle 12 of the sprayer. Thepressure accumulator serves to dampen any fluctuations in pressurecaused by uneven movement of the rollers on the hose section 24 andprovides a relatively constant spray stream during advance of thesprayer.

In operation of the device, the tank 11 is filled with the spray liquid,which will be discharged by engagement of the rollers 31 with the hose24 as the device is advanced and the wheel 13 is rotated. In thisconnection, it is to be noted that the degree spacing of the apertures27 and 28 insures that at least one of the rollers 31 is engaged againstthe hose 24 to collapse the same. As the unit is advanced, the rollers31 travel alternately on the arcuately disposed portion of the hose andprovide continuous pressure to force the liquid from the nozzle 12. Whenthe spraying operation is completed, the unit may be retained upright bysimply lowering the handle 14. To this end, the handle is formed with atransverse rest bar 45 which is adapted to engage the ground and preventtilting of the unit when it is at rest.

It will be apparent that the present invention affords a novel spraydevice which is of comparatively simplified and inexpensive constructionyet is fully effective in operation and use. The liquid to be sprayed isconfined to the tank 11, the hose 24, and the nozzle 12 so that there isno possibility of foreign matter in the liquid interfering with movingparts and clogging the working mechanism. In this way, it is possible tospray liquids having a high solid content without adversely affectingthe sprayer mechanism.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been hereinillustrated and described, it is not intended to limit the invention tosuch disclosure, and changes and modifications may be made therein andthereto without departure from the invention, as defined in thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. A mobile spraying device comprising a tank for containing the sprayliquid, at least one wheel supporting said tank, liquid spray meansfixedly mounted on said device, a backing plate fixedly mounted adjacentand parallel to said wheel, a conduit affording fluid communication fromsaid tank to said spray means including a compressible portion overlyingsaid plate in con pump the spray liquid from the tank to the spraymeans.

2. A'mobile'spraying device comprising a tank for containing the sprayliquid, at least one wheel supporting said tank, liquid spray meansfixedly mounted on said device, a backing plate fixedly mounted adjacentand parallel to saidwheel, a conduit affording fluidcommunication fromsaid tank to said spray -means including a compressible portionoverlying said plate in confronting relation to said wheel and disposedin a semi-circular arc coaxial with said wheel, and roller means carriedby the wheel, positioned to engage said compressible portion of theconduit and actuatable by rotation-of the wheel to longitudinallytraverse said conduit and pump the spray liquid from the tank to thespray means.

3. A .device according to claim 2 wherein said roller means comprises apair of rollers mounted for rotation on an axis normal to the rotaryaxis of said wheel at opposite sides thereof, whereby upon rotation ofsaid wheel, said rollers alternately traverse the compressible portionof said conduit.

4. A mobile spraying device comprising a tank for containing the sprayliquid, at least one wheel supporting said tank, liquid spray meansfixedly mounted on said device, a backing plate fixedly mounted adjacentand substantially parallel to said wheel, a conduit affording fluidcommunication from said tank to said spray means including a resilientcompressible portion overlying said plate, rollers rotated by the wheel,positioned to engage said compressible portion of the conduitandactuatable by rotation of the wheel to longitudinally traverse saidconduit and pump the spray liquid from the tank to'the spray means, anda flexible flap depending from said backing plate and'positioned tocover the conduit to prevent direct contact of the rollers on theconduit.

5. A mobile spraying device comprising a tank for containing the sprayliquid, at least one wheel supporting said tank, liquid spray meansfixedly mounted on said device, a backing plate fixedly mounted adjacentand parallel to said wheel, a conduit affording fluid communication fromsaid tank to said spray means including a compressible portion overlyingsaid plate in confronting relation to said wheel, roller means carriedby said wheel, positioned to engage said compressible portion of theconduit and actuatable by rotation of the wheel to longitudinallytraverse said conduit and pump the spray liquid from the tank to thespray means, and adjustable bearing means carried by said deviceurgingsaidwheel toward said backing plate to effect forcibleengagementof said roller means on said conduit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

